The Border Legion

't you-

his own recognition. And the other's l

a curious, sickening way, that no such person as he had ever before seen her. He was pale, gray-eyed, intelligent, amiable. He appeared to be a man who had been a gentleman. But there was something strange, intangible, immense about him. Was that the effect of his presence or of his name? Kells! It was only a word to Joan. But it carried a nameless and terrible suggestion. During the last year many

d his hand. Roberts took it

e meet last?

d Roberts, and it was evident that he

her the fleetest kind of a glance. "Rather

ded clearer and did not halt. "Been trailin' Miss Randle's favorite hoss. He's lost. An' we

are you

dley's town, back

n we'll camp here with you," continue

es, and they repaired to a cedar-tree near-

hell-bent rattlesnake. When I saw him last he had a rope round his neck an' was bein' led away to be hanged. I heerd afterward he was rescued by pals. Joan, if t

he could not grasp Roberts's intimation. Why should he be killed? They had no gold, no valuables. Even their horses were nothing to inspire robbery. It must be that there was peril to Roberts and to her because she was a girl, caught out in the wilds, easy prey for beasts of evil men. She had heard of such things happening. Still, she could not believe i

as any other group of campers might have talked, and jested and laughed. Kells made a fire, and carried water, then broke cedar boughs for later camp-fire use; one of the

passed. Darkness had about set in when Roberts cam

whispered: "Mebbe it ain't so bad. They-all seem friendly. But I'm scared,

in the dark?" she w

t make up my mind yet what's comin' off. It's all right fo

She had always been an emotional girl of strong will and self-restraint. She had always longed for she knew not what-perhaps freedom. Certain places had haunted her. She had felt that something should have happened to her there. Yet nothing ever

dars and roared in the replenished camp-fire. Sparks flew away into the shadows. And on the puffs of smoke that blew toward her came the

known the long-drawn yell of hostile Indians. She had prospected and hunted in the mountains with her u

ere was nothing imposing in his build or striking in his face, at that distance; but it took no second look to see here was a man remarkably out of the ordinary. Some kind of power and intensity emanated from him. From time to time he appeared to glance in Joan's direction; still, she could not be sure, for his eyes were but shadows. He had cast aside his coat. He w

t girl?" asked Kells, removing his p

onded Roberts. "You see, we d

way from the fire. "It will be cold." He retur

ed," mutter

other, and with that he sat down and

le-blankets over to where Joan was, and laying them d

here is," he said. "Reckon

into a bed. Presently Joan felt a tug

d, with his big hand to his mouth,

he jingle of spurs and the rustle of cedar brush. By and by Roberts came back to her, dragging his saddle, and lay down near her. Joan raised up a little to see Kells motionless and absorbed by the fire. He had a strained and tense position. She

m any possible menace. This plan occupied her thoughts for a long while. If she had not been used to Western ways she would have tried just that thing. But she rejec

ime that must have been hours passed. The fire died down and then brightened; the shadows darkened and then lightened. Someone now and then got up to throw on wood. The thump of hobbled hoofs sounded out

bbles. No one, apparently, paid any attention to Joan. She got up and smoothed out her tangled hair, which she always wore in a braid down her back when she rode. She had slept, then, and in her boots! That was the first time she had ever done that. When she went down to the brook to bathe her face and wash her hands, the men still, apparently, took no notice o

ng," she sa

n Bill stared boldly at her, but without a word. Roberts returned her greeting, and as she glanced quic

mbs. She was glad to move over to a stone and sink down upon it. Roberts brought her breakfast, but he did not speak or look at her. His hands shook. And this frightened Joan. What was going

air cool, persuading, dominant. He ceased speaking, as if the incident were closed. Roberts hurried and blundered through his task with his pack and went for his horse. The animal limped slightly,

dy," he called. His voice

been there, for all the sign this ominous man gave of her presence. He confron

your horse and cl

ven. Perhaps the mask was off now; he was wholly sure of what he had only feared; subterfuge and bli

o without the

can't t

ppen. Her heart almost stood still. Breathless and quivering, she

ong with you, then

pany's no

'll go

d and grim acceptance of something he had expected. And the voice of Ke

t any sense, Ro

de no repl

tinued Kells. "You did me a favor once over in California. I

rst," declared Roberts, and his

ess of the pale-gray eyes that watched

lls. He laughed coolly. "That won't help

clutches," flashed Roberts. "An' I ain't a-goin'

ength-what certainty appeared behind it! "It's not my habit to argue with fools. Take the chance I offer yo

n' inhuman! I knew that out in the gold-fields. But to think you can stand there-an' talk sw

en't you a wi

if I left Joan Randle to you. An' I've got a grown girl. Mebbe some da

ect, unless to bring out by contrast the s

u hit th

undered

w she had a convulsion of fear. She had seen men fight, but never to the death. Roberts crouched like a wolf a

, covering her ears, running blindly. Then upo